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Maria Sharapova will face Heather Watson in the second round of the Japan Open after the British qualifier ousted Germany’s Sabine Lisicki on Monday.

Maria Sharapova will face Heather Watson in the second round of the Japan Open after the British qualifier ousted Germany’s Sabine Lisicki on Monday.

World No. 78 Watson made up 48 ranking places to upset Lisicki 6-4, 7-6(3) on the hard court in Tokyo and set up a meeting with Sharapova, whose status as second seed meant she received a first-round bye.

Watson’s win prevents a rematch between Sharapova and Lisicki, who have clashed memorably at Wimbledon on three occasions, the Russian winning last year’s semifinal and beating Lisicki at the Olympics in August, but losing to the German in the fourth round at SW19 this year.

Elsewhere, world No. 10 Marion Bartoli secured her place in the second round by beating local hero Kimiko Date-Krumm in straight sets.